St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-11-05
THE WALLEDN ROOM.
Being the Terrible Adventure of
an Irish Naturalist.

opened my eyes ana looked around
the. A man was leaning over my bed;
near the man stood a woman with a
bonnet with great white wings on the
sides, holding in her hands q moist
compress. The room was plain and
neat, with clean white walls. On a
table. covered with great napkin oi
yellow linen. noted . number OF
strange objects-rows of little vials.
and h brown earthen jar filled with bits
of ice. Through the muslin curtains.
which bellied out from the window in
the balmy air. Icould see patch of blue
sky and the tops of green trees bending
lightly in the breeze. Where was 1?
It seemed like long dream that l had
he'd; my head felt empty. my limbs
= ached, and could not think.
The man gently lifted my head. and
gave me few drops of some liquid.
which swallowed with avidity.
'.Well. Mr.. Furniss." he said, show
do you fecl?''
.:Eh. what?' cried. ''Wherc am
II"
You are in my house. my dear sir.
and we shall take good care Of you.
Now. he added. replacing my head on
the pillow. ''be quiet and 60 to sleep"
Igazed at him for long time. and
all at once recognized Doctor Bsr-
tram. the celebrated specialist in in
sanity. A shudder passed through my
frame. Why was l in Doctor Ber-
tram's hospital. instead of in my home.
near PhGnix Park. with my books. my
herbs. and my microscopes around me?
His hospital was for mad people!-and
that Sister Of Charity. those vials. that
bowl of ice--my God, l must be mad!
But why?-how?
'.How long have I been heree" l
asked, after time.
..For four weeks. Mr.. FHrniss. But
you must be quiet and sleep. Now do
not try to talk"
For q month! Was it possible?
What had happened? But even As I
asked myself these questions. little by
little I went off to sleep, and saw, in
a billowy meadow, a road covered with
blood and bOrdercd on either side
with monstrous microscopes shaped
like trees, q road on which two little
girls played at pitch and catch with
severed head. while DR.. Bertram.
comically bonneted with a religious
cap. rode astride of . dead body. which
reared, and pranced, and kicked till he
could scarce keep his seat
The next morning was better; and
day by day improved. though that
horrible nightmare came to me each
night. But it grew less and less dis
tinct, and in q few weeks it almost
ceased to trouble rue.
One evening the doctor. whom I had
not seen during the day, seated him
self near my bed.
"Well." said he. feeling my pulse.
'.you are doing famously. I'll have
you out. as good rs new. in few days.
But you've had close shave. It has
been one of the prettiest cases Of
cerebral congestion l ever hsndled-a
beautiful case. Why. it's . wonder
you are alive now. Tell me. how is
your memory; can you remember what
happened before you were brought
here?'
IL don't know. can not think. I
have passed through something fearful.
What it is. can not say. From the
faint glimmer Of recollection that comes
to me. have the sensation of having
been murdered! o. it is fright
ful! My brain is weak yet. Then. the
child. pretty golden-haired child
rolling on the floor"
Come. come. this will never do"
said the doctor. 'You can tell me all
about it in the morn"
mo, now, DOCTOR" l cried. 1T is
coming back to me. Yes. have it
now"
Here is an exact transcript Of my
recital as told it to DR.. Bertram and,
later, to the magistrate.
You know my passion for natural
history. Well. scarcely week passes
that l do not go into the country
botanizing. That day l went to
Glacnevin. where. rs YOU know. the
marshy meadows are rich in curious
plants. infusoria. and diatoms. Twas re
turning. and was almo st in Dublin with
my box full Of rare specimens. on which
] 1expected 10 make a report that would
Art~ .s-k al